Seat belt buckle



Sept 8, 1964 M. GOLDMAN SEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed Jan. 29, 1963 UnitedStates Patent 3,147,530 SEAT BELT BUCKLE Martin Goldman, Old Westbury,N.Y., assignor to Ratsey Safety Belts, Inc., City Island, Bronx, N .Y.,a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 254,621 1 Claim.(Cl. 24-230) This invention relates generally to the field of automotiveseat belt buckles, and more particularly to an improved form of suchbuckle in which the latching and latch-release elements are pivotallymounted with respect to a base element to simplify both engagement ofthe component parts of the buckle and the disengagement thereof.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide animproved form of seat belt buckle in which the latch element andlatch-opening element thereof are relatively movably interconnected, insuch manner that the latch element may be moved independently of thelatch-opening element during the period in which the component parts ofthe buckle are being engaged, and in which the latch-opening element andlatch element move as a unit to unlock the buckle so that the componentparts may be disengaged.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedbelt buckle of the class described which will not readily accidentallyopen, but which may be readily disengaged intentionally.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedseat belt buckle of the class described in which the cost of fabricationmay be of a reasonably low order, thereby permitting consequent widesale, distribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedseat belt buckle in which the major component parts may be formed asmetallic stampings, thereby simplifying the manufacturing procedurestherefor.

A feature of the invention lies in the unusually attractive appearanceof the disclosed embodiment.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the of the embodiment.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view thereof showing the device in openedcondition.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view in elevation, partly broken away to showdetail.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 6-6 inFIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, is illustrated in FIG- URE l in the drawing ininstalled condition upon a conventional automotive seat 11, the ends ofthe device being secured in conventional floor anchors 12. As is usualin constructions of this type, the device 10 is interconnected withfirst and second seat belt elements 13 and 14 in well-known manner. Thedevice 10 comprises broadly: a base element 16, a pivotally mountedlatch element 17, a pivotally mounted latch-opening element 18, and alatch-engaging element 19.

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- The base element 16 is preferably formed from a metal- 11c steelstamping, and includes a base wall member 21, a pair of parallel sidewall members 22 and 23, and a transversely disposed shaft member 24, theends of which are anchored within the side wall members 22 and 23. Agenerally rectangular opening 26 extends between the wall members 22 and23 to provide for the entry of the second belt element 14. Slottedopenings 27 and 28 are disposed directly above the opening 26, and areengaged by a belt element-engaging shaft 29 about which the belt element14 is looped.

The pivotally mounted latch element 17 is best seen from a considerationof FIGURE 3 in the drawing, and is also formed as a steel stamping. Itincludes a planar member 34, having a pair of lateral extensions 35 and36 supporting angularly disposed brackets 37 and 38. The brackets 37 and38 are provided with aligned orifices (not shown), and engage the shaft24 for limited rotation with respect thereto. A coil spring 39 engagesthe bracket 37 at one end thereof, the other end (not shown) bearingagainst the inner surface of the latch-opening element 18 to normallyurge the latch element 17 in a downward direction as seen in FIGURE 6.Third and fourth lateral extensions 40 and 41, respectively, areprovided with locking lugs 42 and 43, which in a latching positionproject into the rectangular openings 30 and 31 in the base element 16,as best seen in FIGURE 6. A longitudinally disposed slotted opening 45(see FIG- URE 6) provides means for engaging the latch-opening element18, as will more fully appear.

The latch-opening element 18 is also formed as a large steel stamping,and is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 24 for coaxial rotation withrespect to the latch element 17. It includes an upper planar member 48,an integral end member 49, and side flange members and 51 havingopenings therein engaging the above-mentioned shaft 24. The flangemember 51 includes a slotted opening 52 engaging a pin 53 on the baseelement 16, which limits the degree of angular rotation from that shownin FIGURE 6 to that seen in FIGURE 4. A coil spring 58 engages the pin53 on one end thereof, the other end contacting the the lower surface ofthe end member 49 (see FIGURE 3). Extending downwardly from the innersurface of the upper planar member 48 is a transversely disposed pin 55having an enlargement 56 thereon, the pin 55 being slidably engagedwithin the opening 45 in the latch element 17 Thus, when the latchelement is raised independently of the latch opening element, as whenthe same is contacted by the edge 62, the pin 55 slides within theopening 45, and when the latch opening element is raised, the motion istransmitted through the pin 55 and enlargements 56 to the latch element.

The latch-engaging element 19 is of planar configuration, and includes afirst portion 59 bounded by side edges 60 and 61 and an end edge 62.Rectangular openings 63 and 64 correspond in position to that of thelocking lugs 42 and 43. A second portion 65 is bounded by edges 66 and67, side edges 68 and 69, and an end edge 70. A transverse elongatedslot 71 provides means for engaging the first belt element 13 which isfolded back upon itself and riveted or sewn as desired.

During engagement of the element 19 with the latch element 17, theformer is moved leftwardly as seen in FIGURE 5 until the end edge 62strikes the lugs 42 and 43 and pivots the element 17 a distancesufiicient to allow the element 19 to pass therebeneath. When the firstportion 59 of the element 19 is completely seated, the lugs 42 and 43will drop into the openings 63 and 64 therein, and in the openings 30and 31 in the base element 16 to securely lock the element 19 againstwithdrawal. During this motion, the latch-opening element 18 will remainstationary, as it provides sufiicient clearance for movement of thelatch element 17 therebeneath, the pin 55 merely riding in the slottedopening 45. To disengage the element 19 from the element 17, the planarmember 48 is pivoted about the shaft 24 a distance sufficient to againclear the lugs 42 and 43 from the openings 63 and 64, respectively.Excessive pivoting action is prevented by the engagement of the pin 53with the end of the slotted opening 52, as seen in FIGURE 4. Whilemaintaining the latch-opening element 18 in this condition, thelatch-engaging element 19 may be withdrawn without hinderance.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications Will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In a seat belt buckle of the class described, a base element including abase Wall and a pair of adjoining side Walls, a transversely disposedshaft interconnecting said side walls, a latch element pivotally mountedupon said shaft and having first spring means resiliently urging saidlatch element to a closed condition, a latch-opening element pivotallymounted upon said shaft and having second spring means resilientlyurging said latch-opening element toward said base element, saidlatch-opening element covering said latch element and forming anenclosed space within which said latch element may be independentlymoved against the action of said first spring between open and closedpositions, said latch-opening element having an elongated projectionhaving an enlargement on a free end thereof, said latch element having acorresponding opening therein of width smaller than that of saidenlargement, and slidably engaging said projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,876,516 Cummings Mar. 10, 1959 2,893,088 Harper et a1. July 7, 19593,013,317 Weher Dec. 19, 1961 3,029,487 Asai Apr. 17, 1962 3,078,538Brown Feb. 26, 1963

